06 May 2005
Increased rights for the homeless in Scotland have led to a flood of applications, with one in every 100 Scots seeking accommodation, it was disclosed this week.
Latest figures showed that a record number of applications are now being made to Scotland's 32 local authorities. According to an analysis by The Scotsman newspaper, the figure has doubled over the past ten years and has risen by 24% since devolution.
In 2001, the Scottish Parliament introduced rules requiring councils to accommodate anyone who demanded it. Of the 54,829 applications in 2003/04, 38,650 were assessed as from the homeless.
The Scottish Executive said the increase was a response to reforms designed to make it easier for people to claim homeless status. A spokesman said: 'By improving their rights, people are encouraged to come forward and get help. This may have led to some of the previously "hidden homeless" coming forward to clam their rights. We are improving the rights of homeless people and widening the duties of local authorities to provide accommodation and assistance.'
Housing organisations seized on the figures as underlining their argument that action was needed to provide more affordable housing in Scotland.
David Orr, chief executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, said the extent of Scotland's homelessness demanded a national response, starting with the scrapping of plans to extend the right to buy.
He added: 'The shortage of affordable rented housing in Scotland is causing a homelessness crisis. The reported figures are… not surprising to anyone who works in Scottish housing.'
The head of campaigns for Shelter (Scotland), Gavin Corbett, said the right to buy meant there were 100,000 fewer council houses since Labour came to power. People can't get housing now, and the results are obvious,' he said.
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